The growth of the seed industry in Tasmania, coupled with our State’s investment into reliable irrigation water, market access and more affordable land prices, resulted in Ben and his wife Steph selling their New Zealand farm and making an offer on 800 hectares at Epping Forest.

So, in February 2018, Ben, Steph and their two children Isla, now 10, and Johnny, now 9, established Riverlea Farming in Tasmania, focused on red meat, ryegrass for seed, carrot and beetroot seed, and potatoes, peas and broccoli.

“It was definitely a commercial decision, not an emotional decision,” Ben shared.

“We put a lot of thought into access to markets, climate, frost prevalence, soils and – of course – irrigation water. Tasmania’s cheaper price for irrigation water, as well as the level of reliability, were two of the key factors in deciding to move. Our Epping Forest irrigation model was initially based on access to South Esk River water and on-farm storage, but it wasn’t until we farmed through extremes of wet and dry that we realised that although river water was cheap, we still farmed with some risks.

“That’s why the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme (NMIS) is integral to minimising risk and enabling us to diversify into higher returning land uses.”

Ben will receive 350 megalitres of NMIS water. While he is intrigued by other land uses, he and Steph are happy with their current production model. The NMIS water will intensify current enterprises and further utilise existing infrastructure.

They are quick to share their thoughts about the short and long-term impact Tasmanian Irrigation’s 25,500-megalitre NMIS project will have on the region.

“Small towns, schools, rural supplies, infrastructure investment, on-farm development, employment, opportunities for our children – there is an incredible knock-on effect for every megalitre delivered,” Ben said.

“What people around Australia are going to eat in 10 years’ time could come from the NMIS pipeline so we are very fortunate that the Tasmanian and Federal Governments have taken a very sound long-term view on what feeding Australia looks like and the role that Tasmania will play.”